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HISTORY 



OF 



Colonel Edmund Phinney's Thirty-First 



Regiment of Foot 



EIGHT MONTHS' SERVICE MEN OF 1775 



WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE COMMISSIONED 
OFFICERS AND ROLLS OF THE COMPANIES 



BY 

NATHAN GOOLD 

HISTORIAN OF THE MAINE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 



REPRINTED FROM THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S QUARTERLY 



PORTLAND 

THE THURSTON PRINT 
1896 



967: 



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HISTORY OF COL EDMUND PHINNEY'S 
31st REGIMENT OF FOOT 



HISTORY OF COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S 
31ST REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

THE FIRST REGIMENT RAISED IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND 
IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

BY NATHAN GOOLD. 

Longfellow wrote — " War is a terrible trade ; but 
in the cause that is righteous sweet is the smell of 
powder. " 

The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, February 
4, 1775, resolved to purchase munitions of war for 
fifteen thousand men, and April 23, 1775, it was unani- 
mously resolved to raise thirteen thousand, six hundred 
men, and other New England colonies were invited 
to raise their proportionate quota to make the aggre- 
gate of thirty thousand, and in a few days that number 
was enrolled. So many came that the generals were 
obliged to send many back to their homes. On May 
20, 1775, Artemas Ward was commissioned general and 
commander-in-chief of the colony. 

Col. James Scamraon's York County Regiment 
marched soon after the beginning of the war, and 
joined the army at Cambridge, but Cumberland County 
sent no regiment until July, for reasons which will 
hereafter be fully explained. 

Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, was 
the first regiment raised in the County of Cumberland 
for service in the field, in the Revolutionary war. 
Most of the men equipped themselves, but those who 



( • 

4 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

were not able were supplied by the towns where 
they enlisted. A large part of the men enlisted soon 
after the receipt of the news of the commencement 
of the war, and were in the service in and about Fal- 
mouth until July. 

When Capt. John Parker formed his minute men on 
Lexington Common in the early morning of April 19, 
1775, he may have realized the responsibility that 
rested on his company. They represented the for- 
bearance of the colonists, and they, by not firing the 
first gun, established in the minds of the American 
people, the character of the men who first resisted 
British oppression. A boulder now marks the line of 
this company, on that eventful morning, inscribed with 
Capt. Parker's order to his men : — 

Stand your ground. 
Don't fire unless fired upon. 
But if they mean to have war 
let it begin here. 

The war then had actually begun. The news reached 
the town of York on the evening of April 19, and 
Capt. Johnson Moulton collected his company of over 
sixty men, from that old town, and marched on the 
morning of the next day towards Boston, making fifteen 
miles and crossing the ferry over Piscataqua Eiver 
before night. This was the first company that marched 
from the Province of Maine in war of the Rev 
olution. 

The first information of the battles of Lexington 
and Concord reached Falmouth Neck before daylight 
of April 21, and created much consternation and alarm. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S EEGIMENT OF FOOT. 5 

That day Capt. John Brackett's company marched 
towards Boston, followed by companies under com- 
mand of captains Hart Williams, Wentworth Stuart, 
Abraham Tyler, and probably others from Cumberland 
County. These were the militia then organized for 
any immediate service. They proceeded as far as 
Wells, about thirty miles, when they were ordered to 
return home to guard the exposed towns on their own 
seacoast. They arrived at Falmouth, April 24, and 
were allowed five days' service. 

Arrangements were immediately made to form a 
regiment for active service and the business of enlist- 
ing the men was commenced. About two weeks later, 
before the men were all enlisted in this regiment, 
occurred what was called '' Thompson's war, " which 
lasted several days. Capt. Mowat and his surgeon 
were captured (May 9) at Falmouth Neck by Col. 
Samuel Thompson's " Spruce " company of about fifty 
men, from Brunswick. Mowat was released on parole, 
to return the next morning, by the timid and Tory 
influence of the Neck, but did not keep his promise. 
Before the release it is stated the Tories were for the 
militia of the Neck to rescue the prisoners from 
Thompson's men. 

Col. Phinney w^as in town and the soldiers of his 
regiment assembled before the next morning, and were 
" highly enraged " at finding that Mowat had been 
released. This whole affair evidently was planned by 
Col. Thompson, and probably his company arrived on 
the Neck before they were expected by Phinney's 
men, who were to assist in capturing Mowat's vessel. 



6 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

The Gorham and Windham soldiers in their indigna- 
tion sacked Capt. Coulson's house, as he was the most 
prominent Tory, and used it for a barrack. In the cellar 
they found a barrel of New England rum, which he 
had put in for his own use, and it is stated that " they 
made so free with it that some of them were quite and 
others almost drunken. " Calvin Lombard of Gorham, 
who, '"' raised " with some of this liquor, went to the 
foot of the street and fired a brace of balls into the 
side of Mowat's vessel, probably is entitled to the credit 
of firing the first gun at Falmouth in the Revolution. 
He did not belong to the regiment but probably came 
with them from Gorham. He was the youngest son 
of Rev. Soloman Lombard, the first minister of Gorham, 
a graduate of Harvard College, member of the Pro- 
vincial Congress and justice of the Court of Common 
Pleas. Calvin inherited his father's home-place and 
his mother lived with him. He was the father of eight 
children and was a good citizen. He was of light 
complexion, sandy hair, of an impulsive nature and a 
man of courage, which accounts for his zealous patri- 
otism. The tradition is that he afterwards served in 
the army. 

The officers of the regiment and companies resolved 
themselves into a committee of war and after some 
hesitation admitted the officers of the " Neck " 
companies. They voted by a considerable majority, 
that Capt. Mowat's vessel ought to be destroyed, and 
appointed a committee of their number to consider m 
what manner it should be done, but no report has been 
found. This all caused so much consternation and 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 7 

alarm among the people of Falmouth Neck, that Col. 
Phinney induced his men to abandon the attempt, but 
they would not return home until they were given 
some barrels of bread, several cheeses and two barrels 
of rum to each company then in town. They hauled 
Coulson's boats almost over to Back Cove and left 
them, and also seized Sheriff Tyng's bishop, a piece of 
plate valued -at five hundred pounds old tenor, and his 
laced hat. The soldiers carried the bishop and hat to 
Lieut. Cary McLellan's house, near Gorham village 
where they secreted them in the cellar wall by remov- 
ing stones and excavating the earth, then depositing 
the articles, they replaced the stones, so that the 
hiding-place would not be discovered. The tradition is 
that the men were tried for this offense but were not 
convicted. The articles were restored to Sheriff Tyng 
and Coulson was reinbursed by the General Court for 
his loss. 

There was much hard feeling between the people of 
the Neck and the soldiers and it was stated that " the 
soldiers thought nothing too bad to say of the Falmouth 
gentry, " and that some of the soldiers on the street 
were heard to say that, '' this town ought to be 
burned. " The people of Falmouth Neck had not then 
risen to the spirit of the times as they did about five 
months later, when they refused to sacrifice their 
principles to save their town. 

Col. Phinney's regiment were ready and anxious to 
begin their service in an attempt to rid the colonies 
of Capt. Mowat, one of their most troublesome enemies. 
Patriots of later generations, with confidence in their 



8 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF TOOT. 

ancestors, have regretted that they were prevented 
from carrying out their purpose. 

It was Capt. Samuel Noyes of this regiment and his 
company, who captured one of Capt. Coulson's boats, 
which was sent up the Presumpscot River in search of 
masts, June 22. Capt. Wentworth Stuart and his men 
went to New Casco and brought the men into Mars- 
ton's tavern, but they were released in two or three 
days. Maj. Jacob Brown was also there. This all led 
up to the cowardly burning of Falmouth the next 
October by Capt. Mowat. 

Gen. Jedediah Preble of Falmouth, who had served 
at Louisburg in 1745, commissioned a brigadier-gen- 
eral in 1758, was appointed a general in September, 
1774, by the Congress, but was obliged to decline on 
account of his age and ill health. He and Enoch 
Freeman were the most influential men at Falmouth, 
with the Provincial Government at Cambridge, and 
were consulted by the committees and the Congress 
in relation to the operations about Falmouth and 
vicinity, the raising of soldiers and the appointment 
of officers for the army. 

As early as April 26, 1775, Gen. Jedediah Preble 
was requested to appear at Cambridge, by the Provin- 
cial Congress, "as a general or a private citizen," and 
it was probably at this time he was authorized to raise 
a regiment in Cumberland County to join the army at 
Cambridge. He seems to have had authority given 
him to select the officers for the reg-iment. Edmund 
Phinney of Gorham, was appointed colonel and the 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 9 

enlisting of men had commenced when it was discov- 
ered that Samuel March of Scarboro had also been 
authorized to raise a regiment in the county with 
authority to appoint his officers. The county could 
not at that time spare two regiments to go to Cam- 
bridge and this difficulty had to be arranged, so Col. 
Phinney went to Cambridge to appear before the 
committee and with him took the following letter from 
Gen. Preble. 

Falmouth, May 15, 1775. 

Ho)iored Gentlemen: — These wait on you by Col. Phinney 
who brought me all the papers necessary for enlisting a Regi- 
ment in the County of Cumberland. I advised with the Com- 
mittee of Correspondence who was of the opinion it would be 
difficult for our County to spare a Regiment to be moved out of the 
Province of Maine, as we lay much exposed to the Navy by sea, 
and the Indians and French on our back settlements, if they 
should be employed against us : but we would be glad to do 
everything in our power for the defence of our just rights and 
dearer liberties. Our men are zealous in the Cause of our Country, 
and ready to venture everything for the defence of it. Colonel 
March informs me your Honors have appointed him a colonel and 
gave him orders to raise a Regiment in this County, and to 
appoint all his officers : this he acquainted me with after I had 
delivered Colonel Phinney the papers back again which he brought 
me. It is impossible we can spare two Regiments out of this 
County, and they both made considerable progress : am much 
afraid there will be some difficulty in settling the affah-. I am 
persuaded the men in general would prefer Colonel Phinney, and 
so should I for that reason as I look on Colonel Phinney to be 
equal to Colonel March in every respect. 

Should have done myself the honor to have waited on you in 
person but am in a poor state of health and so exercised mth the 
gout that I cannot bear my shoes. I purpose to visit the Camp 



10 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

whenever I am able to undergo the fatigue of so long a journey. 
I wish courage and conduct in our officers, resolution and spirit 
of obedience in our soldiers, and a speedy end of our troubles. 
I am your Honors' most obedient servant, 

Jedediah Preble. 

The committee of 'safety sent an answer dated 
May 20, 1775, from Cambridge, in which they request 
him to stop enlistments in both regiments until it is 
found whether it would be necessary to take any men 
from this county. Soon after, there was probably an 
arrangement made to raise but one regiment with 
Edmund Phinney for its colonel, and Samuel March as 
lieutenant colonel. 

The county convention of May 29, 1775, petitioned 
the Provincial Congress that Col. Phinney's regiment 
mio-ht be stationed at Falmouth, for the defense of the 
town and county. 

In June, 1775, Col. Phinney again went to Cam- 
bridge with the following letter : — 

Falmouth, June 14, 1775. 

Hon. /Sivif : — These wait on you by Col. Phinney who 

informs us he has ordered the men lately enlisted in this County 

to secure the cattle and sheep from the ravages of the cruisers 

from the navy but as no provision is made for their subsistance it 

cannot to do duty without. We refer you to Col. Phinney for 

particulars &c. 

Jedediah Preble, 

Enoch Freeman. 

Col. Phinney presented himself to the Congress and 
the following appears on the records : — 

June 21, 1775. Ordered that Col. Phinney be admitted into 
the house to inform the Congress of the state of the regiment 
inlisted in the County of Cumberland. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 11 

The next day the following order was passed : — 

June 22, 1775. Ordered that Col. Phinney be directed to bring 
up to camp 400 men with effective fire-arms and that a time be 
limited to bring up 100 men, with effective fire arms, he in that 
case to be entitled to a Colonel's commission and not otherwise. 

This order indicates that the Provincial Congress 
was impatient at the delay in the formation of this 
regiment, but in two days more, June 24, 1775, the 
Congress ordered that four hundred of this regiment, 
be marched to Cambridge and the balance to be sta- 
tioned in Cumberland and Lincoln Counties, " as Jede- 
diah Preble, Col. Enoch Freeman, and Maj. Mason 
Wheaton of St. George may think best," but the towns 
were ordered to supply the ammunition. 

Col. Phinney returned to Falmouth and soon after 
the first of July, the companies commenced their march 
to Cambridge, and probably all the companies joined 
the regiment during July or August. While the 
arrangements were being made for the formation of 
the regiment, the battle of Bunker Hill was fought; 
and when they finally entered active service it must 
have been at a period of the greatest anxiety and 
excitement. 

The army assembled at Cambridge was an unorgan- 
ized and undisciplined body of men, brought together 
in a time of great excitement and alarm, but was com- 
posed of men animated with the noblest spirit, ready 
and willing to do their duty. 

Of the uniforms of these men we know very little, 
but at that time probably had none. The Provincial 
Congress, July 5, 1775, resolved that thirty thousand 



12 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

coats be provided to be apportioned to the towns in the 
colony. This would indicate that the regiment had at 
least uniformed coats some later. When Gen. Bur- 
goyne surrendered to the American army, Oct. 17, 1777, 
very few of the soldiers of this colony had uniforms. 
The following is the description of the coats that were 
to be provided : — 

That each coat be faced with the same kind of cloth which it 
was made ; that the coats be made in the common plain way 
without lappels, short, and with small folds of good plain cloth, 
preference given to manufactories of this country. That all the 
coats be buttoned with pewter buttons : that the buttons of each 
regiment have the number stamped on the face of them. 

At this time there was no uniformity in the color 
of the cloth for the infantry, and it was not until 
October, 1779, that blue was adopted as the national 
color for the army uniforms, and not until 1782 that 
the Continental army was fully uniformed, on account 
of the poverty of the colonies. 

The marching of a regiment to Boston in those days, 
before the time of the railroad and steamboat, cannot 
but be an interesting part of their service to their 
descendants. The roads were rough and hard to 
travel, but there was no other way but to march the 
entire distance. Men often, later in the war, started 
from these " eastern parts " and marched to the Hud- 
son River to join the army ; those that wintered at 
Valley Forge, and those that later in the war served 
in the South all marched both ways. 

From the journal of a soldier, we are enabled to fol- 
low Capt. David Bradish's company in their march 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13 

from Falmouth Neck to Cambridge Common to join 
their regiment in the army, showing that they sub- 
sisted at the taverns along their route, also the num- 
ber of" miles traveled each day. One company was 
probably marched at a time, as that was no doubt all 
the taverns could accommodate, and of course all the 
people along the way welcomed them, wished them 
Godspeed and a happy termination of their troubles 

Capt. David Bradish's company w^as preached to 
July 6, by Dr. Deane, and July 8, they started on 
their march towards Boston. 

All the companies probably marched over the same 
rough roads, occupied about the same time in getting 
to Cambridge, and arrived in about the same con- 
dition. 

Capt. Bradish's men started on their long march to 
Cambridge July 8, 1775, at eleven-thirty A. M., and 
arrived at Stroudwater at one o'clock, where they dined. 
At three o'clock they resumed their march, arrived at 
Milliken's tavern at Dunstan Corner, at sunset and 
staid all night. 

Sunday, 9, they started at four o'clock and arrived at 
Patten's tavern, Arundel, at nine for breakfast. Set 
out at eleven got to Littlefield's tavern, where they 
dined at one o'clock. Started again at four, arrived 
at Morrell's tavern, Berwick, at sunset, where they 
staid that night. 

Monday, 10, marched to Lord's tavern, Quampegan 
(Berwick), arriving at eight o'clock, and there had 
breakfast : resumed their march at ten o'clock, and 
dined at Hanson's tavern, Dover, N. H. ; started again 



14 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

at five and arrived at Durham Falls at eight o'clock, 
lodging at Adam's tavern. 

Tuesday, 11, they started at daylight, arrived at 
New Market at eight, and had breakfast at Doe's 
tavern. Then set out at eleven, got to Exeter at 
twelve-thirty o'clock, dining at Gidding's tavern, 
resumed their march at five arriving at Kingston, 
N. H., at sunset, lodging at Parson's tavern. 

Wednesday, 12, marched about sunrise and arrived 
at Plaistow, N. H., at seven where they had breakfast 
at Sawyer's tavern : set out at nine and got to Green- 
leaf's tavern, Haverhill, where they dined, and staid 
until the next morning, on account of a heavy shower 
in the afternoon. 

Thursday, 13, at four o'clock they again started on 
their march, arrived at Stevens' tavern, Andover, at 
eight o'clock and had breakfast ; resumed their march 
at nine-thirty o'clock, getting to " Deacon BuUard's" 
at twelve where they dined. Started at three-thirty 
o'clock going through Wilmington to Wyman's tavern, 
in Woburn, where they staid that night. 

Friday, 14, the company resumed their march at 
four and arrived at Wetherby's tavern, Menotoniy 
(probably Arlington now), at seven o'clock where they 
had breakfast and dinner. At four they again started, 
arriving at Cambridge at five o'clock where they built 
their tents for the night. 

Saturday, 15, was spent in putting their camp into 
proper condition and as one of the company wrote in 
his journal, " Built our tents properly." 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 15 

These tired and footsore men had been ahnost seven 
days from Falmouth, and were allowed one hundred 
and thirty miles travel, at one penny per mile, making 
an average march of about twenty miles per day. 

On the arrival of Col. Phinney's regiment at Cam- 
bridge, they were at once in the presence of the 
enemy, being in sight of the British camps at Charles- 
town and Boston. The American camp about Boston, 
contained about seventeen thousand troops and was 
composed of habitations of every description, from 
the mud and log huts to the regulation canvas tents 
of the Rhode Islanders. Cambridge at that time had 
about fifteen hundred inhabitants. 

Drake says that Col. Phinney and one hundred 
and sixty-eight men were at Cambridge, July 10, 
which indicate that probably three companies were 
there before the arrival of Capt. Bradish's, one being 
Capt. John Brackett's. 

Col. Phinney's regiment was assigned to Gen. Wil- 
liam Heath's brigade, who with Gen. Israel Putnam's 
brigade, comprised the center of the army, all under 
command of Gen Putnam. This regiment was en- 
camped near Fort Number 2, which was on the 
easterly side of Putnam Avenue, at its intersection 
with Franklin Street, in Cambridge. 

Gen. Heath was a Roxbury man, and one of the 
earliest patriots. He was a friend of Gen. Warren, 
having been very active with him on the. nineteenth 
of April, and had been selected as a competent officer 
to command a brigade in the new army. He became 



16 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

a distinguished soldier, serving as a major-general in 
the militia, April 19, 1775, colonel of a Massachusetts 
regiment, May, 1775, brigadier-general June 22. 1775, 
major-general, August 9, 1776, and continued in the 
service until the close of the war. He died January 
24, 1814, aged seventy-six years 

Gen. Israel Putnam, " Old Put" the soldiers called 
him, the farmer soldier who left his plow in the furrow 
at the first news of the beginning of the war, must 
have led a charmed life to have escaped death so many 
times. His services to bis country are well known. 
His energy, courage and patriotism make him the 
almost ideal patriot of those times. The inscription 
on his tomb describes well the man — " He dared to 
lead where any dared to follow." It must have been 
a severe trial to him, when in 1779 he was stricken 
with paralysis and prevented from participating in the 
final campaigns of the war. He lived until 1790. 

John Adams proposed, in the Continental Congress, 
the adoption of the troops of the different colonies, 
then about Boston, as a " Continental Army," and 
George Washington of Virginia, was elected command- 
er-in-chief, June 15, 1775, receiving his commission 
four days later. Gen. Washington arrived at Cam- 
bridge, in time to take command of the army July 3. 
His headquarters were at the house now known as the 
" Poet Longfellow's Home " in Cambridge, which was 
not far froro the camp of this regiment. Under the 
" Washington Elm," on Cambridge Common, he first 
drew his sword in defense of the liberties of America. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 17 

When Washington arrived at Cambridge he wore his 
famous blue and bufi: uniform, and generally wore rich 
epaulettes, an elegant small sword, and carried habit- 
ually a pair of screw-barreled, silver-mounted pistols, 
with a dog's head carved on the handles. He some- 
times wore a light blue ribbon across his breast to 
indicate his rank in the army. 

Washington was six feet two inches in height, mus- 
cular, had a Roman nose, large hands and feet, and 
large blue eyes. One of the generals thus described 
his general appearance : — 

His stature is noble and lofty, he is well made and exactly pro- 
portioned ; his physiognomy mild and agreeable, but such as to 
render it impossible to speak particularly of any of his features, 
so that in quitting him you have only the recollection of a fine 
face. He has neither a grave nor a familiar air, his brow is 
sometimes marked with thought, but never with inquietude ; in 
inspiring respect he inspu-es confidence, and his smile is always a 
smile of benevolence. 

This was the man that this regiment loved and 
honored as their commander, and next to him they 
loved "Old Put," who was brusque, hearty, and honest, 
and at this time was fifty-seven years of age. His 
summer costume was a waistcoat without sleeves and 
across his brawny shoulders was thrown a broad 
leathern belt from which depended a hanger. It is 
said that he sometimes " swore big oaths," but he was 
a man of action and purpose. 

A return made in July, 1775, gives the regiments 
composing Gen. Heath's Brigade and the number of 
men fit for duty ; but it was before all the companies 



18 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

had joined Col. Phinney's Regiment, which consisted 
of over five hundred men. 



Gen. Will 


[AM Heath's Brigade, July, 


1775 


Gen. 


Heath's Regt 


483 


men. 




Col. 


Patterson's " 


409 






(( 


Scamman's " 


456 






(( 


Phinney's " 


319 






(( 


Gerrish's " 


498 






(( 


Prescott's " 


430 








Total 


2595 







Col. James Scamman's regiment was the 30th 
regiment of foot, from York County, and was at 
Cambridge before the battle of Bunker Hill, but took 
no active part in the battle because of a misunder- 
standing of orders. 

Col. Edmund Phinney's regiment had enrolled five 
hundred and forty-nine men and the following was the 
roster of the regiment at Cambridge. 

Roster of the 31st Regiment of Foot, 1775. 

Colonel, Edmund Phinney, Gorham. 
Lieut.-CoL, Samuel March, Scarborough. 
Major, Jacob Brown, North Yarmouth. 
Adjt., George Smith, Scarborough. 
Quartermaster, Moses Banks, Scarborough. 
Surgeon, Stephen Swett, Gorham. 
Total 6 men. 

Capt. Bradish Co., of Falmouth. 

Captain, David Bradish, Falmouth. 
1st Lieut., Bartholomew York, Falmouth. 
2d Lieut., Paul Ellis, Falmouth. 
Total 60 men. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 19 

Capt. John Brackett's Co., of Falmouth. 

Captain, John Brackett, Falmouth. 
1st Lieut., James Johnson, Falmouth. 
2d Lieut., Jesse Partridge, Falmouth. 
Total 61 men, 

Capt. Samuel Notes' Co., of Falmouth, 

Captain, Samuel Noyes, Falmouth. 
1st Lieut., Josiah Baker, Fahnouth. 
2d Lieut., Joshua Merrill, Falmouth. 
Total 47 men. 

Capt. Hart Williams' Co., of Gorham. 

Captain, Hart Williams, Gorham. 
1st Lieut., William McLellan, Gorham. 
2d Lieut., Carey McLellan, Gorham. 
Total 53 men. 

Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Co., of Gorham, Standish, 
and Windham. 

Captain, Wentworth Stuart, Gorham. 
1st Lieut., Jonathan Sawyer, Gorham. 
2d Lieut., Caleb Rowe, Standish. 
Total 51 men. 

Capt. Moses Merrill's Co., of New Gloucester, and Gray. 

Captain, Moses Merrill, New Gloucester. 
1st Lieut., Noah Walker, New Gloucester. 
2d Lieut., Nathaniel Haskell, New Gloucester. 
Total 55 men. 

Capt. John Worthley's Co., of North Yarmouth, &c. 

Captain, John Worthley, North Yarmouth. 
1st Lieut., Bradbury True, North Yarmouth. 
2d Lieut., Crispus Graves, North Yarmouth. 
Total 49 men. 



20 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Capt. Abraham Tyler's Co., of Scarborough. 

Captain, Abraham Tyler, Scarborough. 
1st Lieut., Elisha Meserve, Scarborough. 
2d Lieut., Moses McKenney, Scarborough. 
Total 56 men. 

Capt. John Rice's Co., of Scarborough. 

CajJtain, John Rice, Scarboro. 
1st Lieut., Silas Burbank, Scarboi-o. 
2d Lieut., Edward Milliken, Scarboro. 
Total 49 men. 

Capt. Samuel Dunn's Co., of Cape Elizabeth. 

Captain, Samuel Dunn, Cape Elizabeth. 
1st Lieut., Ebenezer Newell, Cape Elizabeth. 
2d Lieut.. Samuel Thomes, Stroudwater. 
Total 62 men. 

The regiment had commissioned officers, 36 
Non-commissioned officers and privates, 513 



Total 549 men 

Col. Phinney's regiment at once, on their arrival in 
camp, assumed the dangers and responsibilities of sol- 
diers. They participated in the skirmishes and picket 
firing and saw many killed and wounded about them, 
but during their entire service they saw no great or 
decisive battle. 

The history of a regiment, written at so late a per- 
iod after its war-service, must of necessity be defi- 
cient in many details, and the facts of the principle 
events have been gathered from so many sources, 
principally manuscripts, that it is hardly possible to 
give references. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGEMENT OF FOOT. 21 

The first important event after the arrival of the 
regiment at Cambridge was the burning of Boston 
lighthouse by our troops to prevent British warships 
from coming into the harbor. At that time the har- 
bor was full of the enemy's vessels which annoyed our 
army with their guns, but to the relief of our soldiers 
eleven sailed away July 24. Of course in an undis- 
ciplined army like this, there was a great deal of 
anxiety and excitement ; consequently they were often 
alarmed, called to quarters, and sometimes slept on 
their arms for fear of a sudden attack. 

About one o'clock July 31, there was an alarm, all 
the drums beat to arras and this regiment turned out 
and manned Fort No 2. The British marched out to 
Roxbury, burned a house and barn, but our soldiers 
drove them back into Boston. A lad, about sixteen, 
who belonged to the Marblehead regiment, was killed. 
The enemy kept up a continual firing with cannon 
and small arms until morning. The British having re- 
built Boston light, our soldiers destroyed it the second 
time. The same day Gen. Gage sent out a flag of 
truce for a cessation of hostilities for six days, which 
was not granted and the rambling battle went on, our 
army strengthening their works in the meantime. 

About the first of August Morgan's riflemen com- 
menced to arrive in camp from the South and attracted 
considerable attention. They came in detachments 
and were very expert marksmen. Their uniform 
consisted of white or drab linen or cotton hunting- 
shirts with pants of the same material, trimmed with 
the same cloth raveled out, making a kind of fringe. 



22 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

They wore skull caps trimmed with the same fringe, 
and altogether their appearance was very striking. 
They had marched, it has been stated, six hundred 
miles in twenty-one days (which was on an average 
about twenty-eight and one-half miles per day), to aid 
our forefathers, proved themselves brave and fearless 
patriots, and became the sharpshooters of the army. 

Our regiment, in August, was under fire almost 
every day. 

Sundays the regiment attended religious worship 
and generally had a sermon preached. Parson Eph- 
raim Clark, of Cape Elizabeth, went to Cambridge and 
remained '• a spell" in the latter part of August and 
the early part of September, encouraging the soldiers 
and conducting their meetings. 

Many citizens of Falmouth visited the army at 
Cambridge, bringing letters and messages to the 
soldiers. Some of these visitors served as substitutes 
for their friends, allowing them to visit their homes 
for a few days. 

Among those who visited the regiment from Fal- 
mouth were Peter Warren, Enoch Ilsley, Richard 
Codman, Joseph H. Ingraham, Brackett Marston, 
Enoch Moody, John Archer, Benjamin Titcomb, Jacob 
Adams, Zebulon Bishop, Paul Cammett, Stephen 
Tukey, Aaron Chamberlain, Benjamin Mussy, Mr. 
Randall, William Owen, Nicholas Hodges, John 
Thrasher, John Frothingham, Amos Lunt, Joseph 
Berry, Dr. Lowther, John Rolfe, Cutting Noyes and 
Thomas Saunders. 

August twenty-second was probably remembered for 
a long time by the men of the regiment because they 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 23 

were that day mustered and Enoch Ilsley of Falmouth 
" treated " the entire regiment. This was not a treat 
of champagne,- but probably good old New England 
rum. 

Lieut. York, of Capt. Bradish's company, with 
thirty-seven men mounted guard at Gen. Washing- 
ton's headquarters, now the Longfellow house at 
Cambridge, September 16. This was probably a 
proud day for these soldiers from Falmouth Neck. 
The next day Messrs. Owen and Burns came from Fal- 
mouth with clothing for the soldiers, which was much 
needed to make them comfortable. 

During September some of the men of the regiment 
enlisted to man the floating batteries, and some of Capt. 
Bradish's company guarded Dr. Church ; and Novem- 
ber 15, the record sa3^s, that this regiment " took Dr. 
Church to guard." Dr. Benjamin Church, Jr., was an 
accomplished physician, poet and scholar and was ap- 
pointed director general of the medical staff after 
the arrival of Washington. He was a member of the 
committee of correspondence and the Provincial 
Congress, and was convicted of holding secret corres- 
pondence with the British, informing them of th^ 
movements of our army. He was exiled and the ves- 
sel that bore him towards the West Indies was never 
heard from. This was a famous case and created 
great excitement at the time, as Dr. Church had been 
a trusted officer and an intimate friend of the leading 
patriots. 

From the journal of William Moody, a soldier in 
Capt. Bradish's company, we make the following ex- 
tracts in regard to some of the service of the regi- 



24 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

ment. Mr. Moody served several years in the army 
and belongs on the list of Falmouth patriots. He 
must have been a thoughtful man to have recorded 
his observations for the use of those that were to come 
after him. These extracts give additional information 
not given in the general movements of the regiment. 

July 16th, Sunday. Heard a large firing in Boston by the troops. 
" 17th, Making cartridges. This afternoon was fired in 

Boston by the shipping eleven cannon. 
" 18th, A declaration from the Continental Congress was 
read on Prospect Hill. 

From the journal of Lieut. Paul Lunt of Newbury- 
port we have a fuller account of the above. He 
wrote : — 

A manifesto from the Grand Continental Congress was read 
by the Rev. Mr. Leonard, Chaplain of the Conneticut forces on 
Prospect Hill, in Charlestown, to those troops encamped upon 
and near said Hill. Our standard was presented in the midst of 
the regiments with this inscription upon it, "Appeal to Heaven," 
after which Mr. Leonard made a short prayer, and then we were 
dismissed by a discharge of a cannon, three cheers and a warhoop 
by the Lidians. 

July 19th, A sergeant of the Regulars' guard spoke with our 
sentry with a message. Gen. Putnam went down 
to the lines to meet Burgoyne. 
" 20th, This P. M., was fired in Boston 18 cannon. 
" 21st, 20 of our company and 200 of our regiment went 

over to Winter Hill to entrench. 
" 22d, Our legiment marched to Cambridge Common in 
order to pass muster. The money not being 
ready adjourned to next week. 
" 2.3d, Last night about 12 oclock, there was an alarm and 
our regiment mustered and turned out, doubled 
our guard and laid upon our arras all night. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 25 

July 24th, Our regiment went upon Winter Hill to work en- 
trenching and from there to Mystic to make gab- 
buns (gabions) this afternoon. 

" 25th, They were mustered and paid off. Last night a man 
was killed on Prospect Hill by snapping a gun 
carelessly. 

" 28th, Yesterday a ship fired a cannon and killed an indian 
at Koxbury. 

" 30th, Some riflemen went down to keep sentry last night. 
They killed 5 or 6 Regulars and the Captain. 
The Regulars firing all the forenoon by divisions. 

" 31st, Our people took 25 Regulars ami 12 Tories and car- 
ried them to Worcester. 
Aug. 1st, Our people hoisted a liberty pole ^ on Prospect Hill 
and a flag upon it. Fired a 24 pounder at the 
ship but did no damage. 

" 3d, Firing cannon from a floating battery. 

" 4th, Last night 700 men went from Roxbury to entrench 
on the Neck. Four of our men enlisted to man 
a whaleboat. 

" 7th, Last night the regulars landed at Chelsea, 150 in 
in number, and burnt a house and stack of hay. 
Our people firud 13 cannon at them and drove 
them back. 

" 9tli, The Riflemen took 8 Regulars on Hoxbury Neck 
this P. M. 

" 12th, Twenty-one cannon fired at Castle William, 

" 13th, Last night 3 regulars ran away from Boston. 

" 16th, Last night a man swam out of Boston to our sentry 
at Lechmere Point. Short allowance. 

" 25th, We heard Gage was coming out to-day. Firing in 
Boston by Divisions. We heard firing by the 
sentry on Ploughed Hill. A ship arrived and 
they fired 24 cannon. 

iThis liberty pole was a mast that came out of a schooner that was burned at 
Chelsea, and was seventy-six feet high. 



26 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's EEGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Aug. 26tli, Four men belonging to Gage's floating battery swam 
to Chelsea. They fiied cannon and small arms 
at them but did not hurt them. 
" 27th, The Regulars began to fire on Ploughed Hill from 
Bunker Hill and the floating batteries "with 
their cannon. Killed one Adjt. one private and 
one Indian. Wounded a Rifleman in the leg. 
" 30th, Several bombs thrown onto Ploughed Hill. 
" 31st, Last night and this morning the Regulars threw 
bombs into the b re nst- works on Ploughed Hill. 
Sixty- three of our regiment went over to Ploughed 
Hill to keep sentry, 
Sept. 1st, Bombs thrown on Ploughed Hill, Cannonaded 
Roxbury. Killed of the enemj^ 5. 2 of ours. 
2nd, Killed one of our men on Ploughed Hill. 
4th, The enemy bombarding Plouglied Hill. No damage. 
11th, Took 6 regulars and brought them to headquarters. 
21st, The enemy bombarded all day. 

23d, 25 men drummed out of service from Marblehead. 
29th, Lieut. York, with 8 men out of our company to 
go in the floating battery, 
Oct. 2nd, We put up a liberty pole, hoisted a flag and fired a 
gun. 
" 3d, Yesterday 60 men drafted to try the boats, over- 
loaded one boat, came near sinking her. 
" 4th, A sergt. from the Regulars ran away and brought 

his halbert and £30, with him. 
" 31st, Digging well for the barracks. 
Nov. 5th, They sent from Falmouth for the regiment to 
come there. (This was on account of the alarm of 
November 1.) 
" 9th, About 1500 Gageites landed at Lechmere Point to 
steal cattle. Our people resisted and had an en- 
gagement which lasted an hour.^ 
" 23d, This morning we hoisted a large new flag on 
Prospect Hill, 

1 On account of the high tide at that time, our soldiers were lohliged to resist 
the British standing in the water up to their waists. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 27 

The author of this diary when writing " Regulars " 
meant the British soldiers, " Gage " was the British 
general and the "Riflemen "must have been the Mor- 
gan Riflemen. 

When the British ship Cerberus, that had partici- 
pated in the battle of Bunker Hill, came and threat- 
ened Falmouth Neck, November 1, 1775, Enoch Moody, 
chairman of the town committee, wrote Gen. Wash- 
ington under date of November 2, informing him of 
the arrival of that man-of-war, with four hundred men 
on board, and asked for "a person of martial spirit" 
to take command of the defense of the town. Prob- 
ably on receipt of the letter Col. Phinney was ordered 
to Falmouth Neck, and arrived before November 6, 
and took command until the arrival of Gen. Joseph 
Frye, November 25, who had been assigned to this 
station. The committee requested that Col. Phin- 
ney's regiment be ordered to Falmouth, but that re- 
quest was not granted. 

Col. Phinney, while in command at Falmouth, re- 
ceived the following letter from Gen. Washington, 
which manifests the anxiety he felt for the safety of 
the town. Falmouth Neck, now Portland, was in- 
debted to Col. Phinney for his services during' this 
alarm, and his presence probably allayed the fears of 
the inhabitants. 

Cambridge, Nov. 6, 1775. 
Sir : Having received a letter from Mr. Enoch Moody 
chairman of the committe of Falmouth that the inhabitants of 
that town are greatly alarmed by the arrival of the Cerberus 
man of war and are under great apprehensions that some of the 
King's troops will be landed there, it is my desire that you raise 



28 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

all the force you can and give the Town any assistance in your 
power. The difficulty of removing troops after they have made 
a lodgement or got possession of a place is too obvious to be 
mentioned. You will therefore use every possible method to 
prevent their effecting that or penetrating into the country, un- 
til you have further orders. 

I am sir your very humble servant 

Geo. Washington. 
To Col. Edmund Phinney at Falmouth. 

Probably after the arrival of Gen. Frye, November 
25, Col. Phinney joined his regiment at Cambridge, 
informed the anxious soldiers what the situation was 
on Falmouth Neck, how the town had narrowly es- 
caped another attack, and but for the brave yeomanry 
of Falmouth and vicinity, who decided to defend the 
ruins of the town to the bitter end, the entire settle- 
ment might have been destroyed. 

The question " Will the Yankies fight ?" was settled 
at Bunker Hill, and ever afterwards the British res- 
pected their presence i so the commander of the Cer- 
berus, with the lesson he learned there, decided it was 
safest to sail away. Falmouth people had also learned 
a lesson ; the experience was the most bitter for them ; 
but the patriots then and there decided that they 
never would again stand idly by and let a British shijD 
burn their town without some resistance. 

In the latter part of November, Capt. Manley cap- 
tured the British ship London, bound for Boston, 
having on board twenty-five hundred stands of arms a 
number of cannon and some mortars, including the 
thirteen-inch brass mortar " Congress." This was a 
fortunate capture for our cause. It is related that 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 29 

when the brass mortar arrived in camp that there was 
great rejoicing. It was placed on its bed on Cam- 
bridge Common, and " Old Put mounted astride with 
a bottle of rum in his hand, stood parson, while God- 
father Mifflin gave it the name Congress." Mifflin 
was quartermaster-general of the army. The mortar 
was eventually placed at Lechmere's Point and burst at 
the second or third firing, in the bombardment of 
Boston in March, 1776. About a week after the above 
capture, another vessel was taken loaded with cloth- 
ing for the king's troops which was another help to 
the Americans. 

In this campaign, Gen. Washington had done all he 
could to organize and discipline the army and cause 
the British to evacuate Boston, but was afraid to bring 
on a decisive battle with his army in such a destitute 
condition, and seeing the season passing with no prog- 
ress he was much disturbed in his mind. He wrote a 
letter to Congress under date of September 20, 1775, 
from which the following extract is taken : — 

It gives me great distress to oblige me to solicit the attention 
ot the honorable Congress to the state of this army, in terms 
which imply the slightest apprehension of being neglected. But 
my situation is inexpressably distressing, to see winter fast 
approaching upon a naked army; the time of their service within 
a few weeks of expiring ; and no provission yet made for such 
important events. Added to these, the military chest is totally 
exhausted : the Paymaster has not a single dollar in hand. The 
Commissary General assures me he has strained his credit for 
the subsistance of the army to the utmost. The Quartermaster 
General is in precisely the same situation ; and the greater part 
of the troops are in a state not far from mutiny upon a deduction 
from their stated allowance. 



30 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Gen. Washington, in this letter, described the exact 
situation, but many in the colonies were dissatisfied 
because so little had been accomplished, which was 
perfectly natural, but they were not familiar with the 
embarassments that surrounded Washington, or they 
would not have expressed themselves in the manner 
they did. John Adams, then in Philadelphia, getting 
uneasy at the apparent inaction of the army, wrote 
Mercy Warren in November, that Mrs. Washington 
was going to Cambridge, and he hoped she might 
prove to have ambition enough for her husband's glory 
to give occasion to the Lord to have mercy on the 
souls of Howe and Burgoyne. Martha Washington 
arrived in Cambridge December 11, 1775. 

The Continental Congress, in November 1775, 
authorized the raising of a regular army of Contin- 
entals for one year's service from January 1, 1776, 
although urged to make their term longer. This 
army consisted of one regiment of artillery and twen- 
ty-six regiments of foot or infantry. This was the be- 
ginning of the Continental army, the birthday being 
January 1, 1776, and their time to expire December 
31, of the same year. These regiments were num- 
bered from one to twenty-seven, but are known better 
by their colonel's name. 

Gen. Washington, in organizing the Continental 
army, recommended Col. Edmund Phinney as a 
suitable man to be colonel of one of the new regi- 
ments, and he received his commission as the colonel 
of the 18th Continental regiment. He enlisted the 
same field and staff ofiicers that had served with him 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 31 

in the 31st regiment, but there were many changes in 
in the company officers and men. The new regiment 
consisted of but eight companies, while the old reo-i- 
ment had ten, which was the organization decided 
upon probably by Washington, and they were mus- 
tered into service January 1, 1776, on which date was 
raised the Federal flag, the first over the American 
camp, which consisted of thirteen stripes and a Brit- 
ish union. 

About December 3!, 1775, the men of the 31st 
regiment were discharged from the service and those 
that had not re-enlisted returned to their homes. 
Many of the soldiers who had re-enlisted were given 
furloughs to visit their homes to arrange their affairs 
before the opening of another campaign. This regi- 
ment retired from the service with credit to itself and 
to the District of Maine which it represented. 

These early regiments represented the pure patri- 
otism of the people, they had no bounties, furnished 
their arms and equipments and were anxious to strike 
the first blow for their country's liberty. They were 
used to hardship, and fear was unknown to them. 
The older men were used to warfare, as they had 
been accustomed from their earliest boyhood to 
defend their homes against a savage foe, and many 
had been at Louisburg with Sir William Pepperell, 
or had heard their fathers tell of the wonderful suc- 
cess of that expedition. These brave men had 
resolved when they entered the army that they 
would have liberty if it had to be purchased by their 
own blood, and it must have been with feelings of 



32 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

regcret that this reo-iment should leave the service 
with so little accomplished. 

When this regiment retired there were but nine 
thousand troops in the service, they were confronted by 
powerful enemy, and Lossing says in summing up the 
situation at this time, " The disastrous campaign at 
the north deepened the gloom that brooded over the 
colonists and the year 1775 closed without much hope 
for the success of the Americans." 



" A Muster Roll of the Field and Staff Officers in ye Regiment of 
Foot (31st) in ye Colony service to the first of August, 1775." 

Entered Service. 

Edmund Phinney, Colonel, April 24, 1775. 

Samuel March, Lieut. Col., " 24, 

Jacob Brown, Major, " 24, 

George Smith, Adjt., May 7, 

Moses Banks, Q,r. Master, " 7, 

Stephen Swett, Surgeon, " 7, 
Mass. Archives, Vol. 26, page 272. 

Col. Ebmund Phinney. 

Col. Phinney was of good Pilgrim and fighting stock. His father, 
grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather were all 
named John Phinnej^ The earliest John Phinney was at Plymouth, 
Mass., before 163S. Col. Phinney'sgrandfather was a soldier in the 
Swamp Fight in the King Philip war in 1675. His father, Capt. John 
Phinney, came from Barnstable, Mass., to Falmouth, and was the first 
settler of Gorham, Me,, May 26, 1736. He was a captain in the French 
and Indian war, and was " a man of sagacity, steadiness, courage and 
integrity." 

Col. Phinney's mother was Martha Coleman He was born at Barn- 
stable, July 27, 1723; came with his father to Gorham and felled the 
first tree in the township, which was a large bass tree on the site of his 
father's house. When Col. Phinney was a young man he was one 
evening at a distance from the fort in pursuit of the cows when a 
party of Indians in ambush fired upon him, and four balls struck him, 
breaking his arm and otherwise severely wounding him. He saved 
his gun and reached the fort. He went to Falmouth accompanied by 
Hugh McLellan and Eliphalet Watson when Dr. Coffin set his arm 
and attended to his wounds and they returned home the next day. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 33 

Col. Phinney was a sergeant in Capt. George Berry's company, May 
19, 1746 to Jan. 19, 1747, also in Capt. Daniel Hill's company from March 
to December, 1748. He joined the Windham church Feb. 14, 1748, but 
was dismissed to join the Gorham church Dec. 23, 1750. He Avas a cap- 
tain in Col. Samuel Waldo Jr.'s regiment about 1764, in the militia in 
1772, and colonel of the 31st regiment April 24, 1775. He was commis- 
sioned colonel of the 18th Continental regiment Jan. 1, 1776, taking 
part in the siege of Boston and the Ticonderoga campaign of 1776, 
retiring from the service Dec. 31, 1776. 

Col. Phinnej'^ enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens and served 
them as selectman, justice, committee of safety, member of Provin- 
cial Congress, representative to the General Court and ruling elder 
of the Congregational church. He was a zealous patriot, and to him 
every man was for our liberties or against them, and he wished every 
Tory banished from the land. ^Mc^oj^ 

Col. Phinney married first, about 1751, Elizabeth , who had 

eight children, and died Avig. 6, 1795, aged sixty-five years. He 
married second, Nov. 21, 1796, Sarah Stevens, and died at Gorham, 
Dec. 1^1808, aged eighty-five years, a respected citizen. He was a 
man of integrity, unsullied character and generous hospitality, and an 
honor to the town he served so long and well. 

IjIeut.-Col. Samuel March. 

Lieut.-Col. March was, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Small) 
March of Kittei-y; married Jan. 27, 1752, Anna Libby, born Nov. 17, 
1734, a daughter of John and Keziah (Hubbard) Libby of Scarborough, 
and thej' had fourteen children. He entered the service in this regi- 
ment April 24, 1775, and was also lieutenant-colonel of the 18th Conti- 
nental regiment in 1776. He was a prominent man in Scarborough, 
and a member of the Provincial Congress He was a cordwainer and 
later an innkeeper near Oak Hill. His three sons served in the war, 
and four of his daughters married Revolutionary soldiers. He died 
in 1804. 

Maj. Jacob Brown. 

Maj. Brown belonged in North Yarmouth and had been a lieuten- 
ant in Col. Samuel Waldo Jr.'s regiment in 1704. He entered the ser- 
vice in this regiment April 24, 1775, served as major in the 18th Conti- 
nental regiment in 1776, and also in Col. Jonathan Mitchell's regiment 
in the Bagaduce expedition in 1779. He married, July 13, 1743, Lydia 
Weare, daughter of Capt. Peter and Sarah (Felt) Weare. 

Adjt. George Smith. 

Adjt. Smith entered the service in this regiment May 7, 1775, and 
served in the same capacity in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regi- 
ment in 1776. He Avas a captain in Col. Joseph Yose's 1st Massachu- 
setts regiment Jan. 1, 1777, and resigned May 3, 1779. 



34 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Quartermaster Moses Banks. 

Quartermaster Banks was from Scarborough, and was a surveyor. 
He entered the service in this regiment May 7, 1775, and served in the 
same capacity in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regiment until July 
24, 1776. He married Nov., 1754, Phebe Curtis, and came to Scarbo- 
rough about 1760. He died at Saco, Oct. 9, 1823, aged ninety-one years. 
She died April 4, 1814. They had nine children. 

Surgeon Stephen Swett. 

Surgeon Swett came from Exeter, N. H., and was the first physician 
in Gorham, Me. He married before he came to Gorham, Sarah, who 
was said to have been a sister to Lieut -Col. Winborn Adams, of Dur- 
ham, N. H., Avho Avas killed in the battle of Stillwater, Sept. 19, 1777. 
They had six children at Gorham and probably lived also in Otisfield, 
Buckfield and Windham. He entered the service M^j 7, 1775. 

CAPT. DAVID BRADISH'S COMPANY. 

This was a Falmouth company and many of these soldiers became 
prominent citizens of the town in after years. Most of the men served 
in other regiments and several became commissioned officers. 

Capt. David Bradish entered the service April 24, 1775, as captain, and 
served in this regiment until Dec. .31, 1775. He was commissioned 
major Jan. 1, 1777, in Col. Timothy Bigelow's 15th Massachusetts 
regiment, and resigned July 21, 1777. He married July 19, 1767, Abi- 
gail Merrill, and died in 1818. 

First Lieut. Bartholomew York entered the service April 24, 1775 
joined the 18th Continental regiment, Jan. 1, 1776, and was made captain 
May 18, 1776. 

Second Lieut. Paul Ellis entered the service April 24, 1775, and 
served in this company until Dec. 31, 1775; then was captain in Col. 
Jacob French's regiment, marched from Falmouth, Feb. 18, 1776, and 
took part in the seige of Boston, then was captain, Jan. 1, 1777, in Col. 
Timothy Bigelow's 15th Massachusetts regiment, took part in the 
Saratoga campaign, spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, and 
was killed in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. His leg was 
struck by a cannon ball and he bled to death before assistance arrived. 
He married Mary Noyes, May 19, 1766, and she married May 3, 1787, 
Capt. Isaac Parsons of Xew Gloucester, Me. 

Henry Sewall was born in York, Me., Oct 24, 1752, and was a mason 
by trade. He was made ensign in September, and served until Dec. 
.31, then became ensign in Capt Tobias Fernald's Company, in the 18th 
Continental regiment, Jan. 1, 1776, made second lieutenant Nov. 6, 
promoted first lieutenant Nov. 13, and served until Dec. 31. He was 
appointed first lieutenant in the 12th Massachusetts regiment, Jan. 1, 



L 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



35 



1777, and was made, Feb 9, 1778, muster master of De Kalb's division: 
appointed captain April 1, 1779, transfered to the 2nd Massachusetts 
regiment May 3, 1782, and major and aid-de-camp to Gen. Heath Feb. 
5, 1781, and served to June 1783. He settled at Hallowell, Me., and ser- 
ved as town clerk thirty-five years, clerk of the District Court of 
Maine 1789-1818, register of deeds 1799-1816, and was brigadier-general 
and major-general of the militia. He died at Augusta, Me., Sept. if", 
1845, aged ninety-two years, a much respected citizen. 

Isaac Child became second lieutenant, in Col. Francis' 11th Massa- 
chusetts regiment, in 1777, took part in the Saratoga campaign, and 
was at Valley Forge. He resigned March 28, 1779. 

Zachariah Newell became a sergeant in Capt. Benjamin Hooper's 
company in 1776, lieutenant in Capt. John Wentworth's Seacoast com- 
pany, 1777, in the 11th Massachusetts regiment 1780, and was trans- 
fered to the 10th Massachusetts regiment Jan. 1st, 1781. 



" Muster Roll of the Company under the command of Capt David 
Bradish in Col. Phinney's 31st Regt. of Foot to the first of August, 
1775." 

All, from Falmouth. 



David Bradish, Capt., 

Bartholomew York, 1st Lieut., 
Paul Ellis, 2nd " 

William Farrington, 1st Sergt., 



Caleb Carter, 


2 


(( 


Levi Merrill, 


3 


" 


Abner Dow, 


4 


i< 


Henry Sewall, 


1 


Corp., 


Isaac Childs, 


2 


u 


Daniel Mussey, 


3 


(( 


Richard Gooding, 


4 


11 


Jonathan Rand, 


Drum Major, 


Joseph Harsey, 


Fifer, 


Pbivates. 







Benjamin Tukey, 
Benjamin ScoUy, 
Daniel Gookin, 
Cornelius Bramhall, 
Abijah Parker, 
Abijah Pool, 
Zachariah Xowell, 
William Hutchinson, 
Jacob Amey, 
Moses Grant, 



ENLISTED, 


April 


24, 177 


»' 


24, " 


<( 


24, " 


May 


12, " 


(< 


12, «' 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


It 


12, " 


" 


12, " 


" 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


" 


23, " 


(1 


12, " 


" 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


n 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


11 


12, " 


(( 


12, " 



36 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OP FOOT. 



Charles Knight, 
Matthias Haynes, 
Enoch Moody, 
William Moody, 
Lemuel Gooding, 
Moses Burdick, 
Ebenezer Clough, 
John Pettengill, 
James McManners, 
Jonathan Gardner, 
John Clough, 
Thomas Paine, 
Ebenezer Newman, 
Daniel Green, 
Joshua Robinson, 
Joseph Barbou.r, 
Josiah Shaw, 
Joshua Berry, 
Samuel Dow, 
Tobias Pillsbury, 
Thomas Cavanak, 
Loring Cushing, 
Zachariah Baker, 
Daniel Marston, 
Henry Flood, 
James Flood, 
Joseph Thomes, 
Samuel Gates, 
John Mcintosh, 
John Bailey, 
Philip Fowler, 
Joseph Cox, 
George Bell, 
John Pennyman, 
John Scott, 
Benjamin Randall, 
1 Richard Conden, 
1 Enlisted in Arnold's Canada expedition September 8. 

From this muster-roll we find every man including the officers, but 
not including the drummer and fifer, had a carti-idge box, all had 
bayonets to their guns, excepting four and all allowed one hundred 
and thirty miles travel from Falmouth Neck to Cambridge The cap- 
tain and lieutenants carried guns, which was the common practice in 
the army. The men mostly furnished themselves with guns, bayonets 
and cartridge boxes, but a number were furnished by the selectmen. 
An October return of this company is in Mass. Archives Vol. 56, p. 209. 



May 12, 1775 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




12, " 




13, " 




13, " 




13, " 




13, " 




13, " 




16, " 




16, " 




16, " 




17, " 




17, " 




17, " 




20, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 




23, " 



COL. EDMUND THINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 37 

CAPT. JOHN BRACKETT'S COMPANY. 

Capt. Brackett entered active service the day of the receipt of the 
news of the battle of Lexington, and Aj^ril 24, 1775, commenced to 
raise a company for this regiment, which he marched to Cambridge, 
July 3 He was son of Anthony Brackett and lived at Saccarappa, 
but died at Ipswich, Mass., .Sept. 24, 1775. He married (1) Sarah 
Knight, daughter of Nathan Knight, Feb. 14, 1733; married (2) Widow 
Mary (Proctor) Hicks; she married (3) in 1776, Peltiah March of Sac- 
carappa, and died at Otisfield, Maine, Nov. 21, 1817, aged seventy-three 
years. 

Lieut. James Johnson lived at Stroudwater and became captain after 
the death of Capt. Brackett. He was a major in 1st Cumberland 
County regiment 1778, and in Col. Nathaniel Jordan's regiment in 
1779, also in Col. Joseph Prime's regiment in 1780. He was the son of 
James and Jane Johnson, and was born March 22, 1735; married 
Elizabeth Porterfield, born in 1738, and died Sept. 14, 1812, and he died 
in Poland, June 16th, 1831, aged ninety-six years. 

Lieut Jesse Partridge first lived in Saccarappa, and then moved to 
Stroudwater, where his house is still standing. He also served as 
captain six months in Col Greaton's regiment in Washington's arm3'^ 
on the Hudson River in 1778. He died Dec. 31, 1795, aged fifty-three 
years 

Sergt. Daniel Lunt became captain in the 11th Massachusetts regi- 
ment and served until June 3, 1783. 

Sergt. Archelaus Lewis, served also in the 18th Continental regiment 
in 1776, and was lieutenant and adjutant in Col. Vose's regiment 
1777-1779. 

Corp. James Means served also as ensign in the 18th Continental 
regiment, lieutenant in Col. Brewer's regiment, captain in Col. 
Sprout's 12th Massachusetts regiment, was transferred to the 2nd 
Massachusetts regiment Jan 1, 1781, and served until Nov. 3, 1783. 

Stephen Manchester, a private in Capt. Brackett's Co., was one of 
the best known men in the regiment. He was then fifty-eight j^ears 
of age, and it was he who killed the Indian chief Polin, at Windham, 
in 1756, which gave peace and happiness to the settlers of the border 
towns in Cumberland County. 

Stephen Manchester served in Capt. George Berry's and Capt. Daniel 
Hill's companies of Indian scouts in 1747 and 1748, and probably as a 
scout at other times. Besides his service in this regiment he served 
in Col Phinney's 18th Continental regiment through the siege of Bos- 
ton, and was discharged in August. He enlisted for three years, Jan. 
1, 1777, in Col Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment and served 
the entire time of service. He died at Windham, June 24, 1807, aged 
ninety years. 



38 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



"Muster Roll of Capt. John Brackett's Company in the 31st Regt* 
of Foot in the Continental Army at Cambridge. Fort No. 2 " 



John Brackett, 
James Johnson, 
Jesse Partridge, 
Daniel Lunt, 
Morris Clark, 
Joshua Stevens, 
Archelaus Lewis, 
Charles Frost, 
James Doughty, 
James Means, 
Enoch Knight, 
Zebulon Knight, 
Joseph Knight, 

PKIVATES. 

John Blair, 
Jeremiah Brackett, 
George Crockett, 
Moses Gammon, 
George Hammond, 
Pearson Hvintress, 
George Johnson Jr., 
John Knight, 
Stephen Marriner, 
Uriah Nason, 
David Partridge, 
Jeremiah Pennell, 
John Porterfield, 
Joseph Quimby, 
Enoch Riggs, 
Elias Starbird, 
Samuel Starbird, 
Elijah Ward, 
Hem-y Webb, 
Jonn Webb, 
Mark Wilson. 
Stephen Manchester, 
Josiah Peabody, 
James Brackett, 
William Brackett, 
George Douty, 
Daniel Gould, 
Samuel Hicks, 
John Huston, 



Capt , Falmouth, April 




1st Lieut. ' 


' " 


24 


2d " ' 


( u 


24 


Sergt , ' 


' May 


10 


ii ( 


<■ " 


10 


(1 < 


I <( 


18 


<( ( 


' " 


10 


Corp., ' 


( tt 


21 


(( ( 


( ft 


21 


4( t 


( u 


12 
12 


rummer, ' 


I 11 


21 


ifer, ' 


t " 


18 


Falmouth, 


May 16 


(( 




16 






12 
10 


u 




12 
21 
10 
21 


<' 




10 


(< 
u 




10 
18 
10 
10 
10 
12 
10 


(( 




12 


(( 




14 


(( 




12 


(( 




10 

18 


Windham, 




12 


Gorham, 




16 


Falmouth, 


(> 


12 
12 
17 
10 
16 
17 « 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 39 

Joseph Johnson, Falmouth, May 12 

John Lunt, " •' lo 

John McDonald, " " 12 

Amos Noyes, " " 10 

Nathan Partridge, •' "12 

Joseph Pennell, " '14 

John Priest, " " 10 

John Robinson, " " 21 

John Sawyer, " " 17 

John Starbird, " " 10 

John Thomes Jr , " «' 10 

Adrial Warren, " "10 

James Webb. " " 10 

Joseph Wilson, " " 17 

Daniel Crockett, Windham, " 12 

John Loring, " ' 16 

James Westmore. Gorham, •' 13 

John Warren Jr., Falmouth, " 10 

1 John Hammond, " " 12 

1 Entered the Artillery July 25.— Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, page 215. 



CAPT. SAMUEL NOYES' COMPANY. 

This was a Falmouth company and was probably from that part of 
the town now Deering, Westbrook and Falmouth. 

Capt. Samuel Noyes entered the service April 24, 1775. He married 
Mary Merrill in 1750. He was a member of the committee of safety 
and a prominent man. 

First Lieut. Josiah Baker entered the service May 15, 1775. He 
married Nov. 13, 1760, Susannah Gibbs 

Second Lieut. Joshua Merrill entered the service May 15, 1775 He 
married in 17iJo Mary Winslow. 



A Muster Roll of Capt Samuel Noyes' Company in the .31st Regi- 
ment of Foot in the Continental Army. Encamped at Cambridge 
Fort No 2 



Samuel Noyes, Capt , 

Josiah Baker, 1st Lieut., 

Joshua Merrill, 2nd Lieut., 

Humphrey Merrill, Sergt., 
Daniel Merrill, " 

William Cobb, " 





ENLISTED. 


mouth. 


April 24, 1775 


«i 


May 


15, " 
15, '< 


(1 


K 


15, " 


<( 


(1 


15, " 


<( 


<( 


15, " 



40 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S EEGIMENT OF FOOT. 



Stephen Merrill, 


Sergt., 


Falmouth, 


May 


15, 


Moses Adams, 


Corp., 


(( 


u 


15, 


Enoch Merrill, 


(( 


u 


June 


20, 


Amos Merrill, 


u 


" 


May 


15, 


Daniel Hunt, 


u 


Brunswick, 


June 


20, 


Samuel Pool, 


Drummer, 


Falmouth, 


July 


11, 


Joseph Bearing, 


Fifer, 


u 


" 


8, 


PRIVATES. 











Moses Blanchard, Falmouth, May 15, 

Anthony Mors, " " 15, 

(enlisted in Arnold's Canada Expedition Sept. 6th) 
Jonathan Sharp, 
Jacob Knight, 
Moses Merrill, 
Mark Mors, 
Samuel Noyes, Jr., 
William Buxton, 
Moses Sweet, 
John Colley, 
William Colley, 
Rowland Davis, 
Silas Merrill, 
Israel Colley, 
Richard Sweetser, 
Nathan Merrill, 
Nathaniel Merrill, 
John Whitney, 
Josiah Clark, 
John York, Jr., 
Peater Stewart, 
Caleb Woodsum, 
David Mclntire, 
Joseph Green, 
James Frank, 
Moses Twitchell, 
John Dacy, 
Benjamin Field, 
John York, 
Able Bathorick, 
Benja. Hardison, 
James Breedean, 
Eben Jones, 
Stewart Porter, 

" He enlisted under Wescot and was turned over to me October 4th." 
This is probably an October return. Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Page 
211. 



> 



Falmouth, 




It 


15, 


li 




It 


15, 


<( 




It 


15, 


11 




11 


15, 


11 




11 
ti 


15, 
15, 


11 




" 


15, 


" died 


Sept 21st, 


It 


15, 


11 




11 


15, 


(< 




It 


15, 


<( 




tt 


15, 


11 




It 


15, 


North Yarmouth, 


June 10, 


Falmouth, 




ti 


20, 


" discharged Sept. 


21st " 


20, 


11 




It 


20, 


11 




11 


20, 


It 




11 


20, 


11 




11 


22 


li 




It 


22, 


11 




It 


2.3, 


<t 




11 


23, 


" 




11 


23, 


New Boston 


, (Gray), 


July 


8, 


North Yarmouth, 


tt 


8, 


Falmouth, 




It 


10, 


u 




" 


11, 


Andover, 




" 


13, 


Berwick, 




It 


15, 


11 




11 


15, 


11 
Falmouth, 




It 
Aug. 


15, 
9, 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 41 

CAPT. HART WILLIAMS' COMPANY. 

Capt. Williams' compauy was raised at Gorham, and an early com- 
pany roll was published in Piei-ce's history of that town. They en- 
tered the service April 24, 1775. 

Capt. Hart Williams married Martha Phiuney, a daughter of Capt. 
John Phinney of Gorham, in 1750. He marched his militia companj' 
in the Lexington alarm, and took part in the "Thompson war" in 
May 17, 1775 Capt. Williams entered the service April 24, in this reg- 
iment, and Jan. 1, 1776, entered as captain in the 18th Continental 
regiment, serving through the siege of Boston and the campaign at 
Fort Ticonderoga in the fall of 1776 He served as first lieutenant in 
Capt. Abraham Tyler's company, in Col. Thomas Poor's militia regi- 
ment at North River, N. Y., from May 15, 1778 to Feb. 17, 1779, and 
was a pi-ominent citizen of Gorham. He died in 1797. 

First Lieut. William McLellan was the son of Hugh and Elizabeth 
McLellan of Gorham; married in 1763 Rebecca Huston of Falmouth, 
who died Oct. 13, 1823, aged eightj'^-one years. He died in Nov , 1812, 
aged eightj^-three years. He was a soldier in Capt. George Berrj'^'s 
companj^ May 19, 1746, to Jan. 19, 1747, in Capt. Daniel Hill's company 
March to Dec , 1748, and in Capt. Joseph Woodman's company in 1757, 
seven months. He entered the service April 24, 1775, in this regiment, 
served in 1776 in Col Phinney's 18th Continental regiment, and was 
first lieutenant in Capt. Abner Lowell's company at Falmouth, in 1777. 

Second Lieut., Cary McLellan, a brother of the above, married (1) 
Jan. 3. 1767, Eunice Elder, and (2) Jan. 2.5, 1785. Mary Parker of Cape 
Elizabeth. He entered this regiment with his brother, and served in 
the 18th Continental regiment in 1776, at the siege of Boston and Fort 
Ticonderoga. He later fitted out a privateer at Falmouth but after 
making one capture was chased once and escaped, but finally was cap- 
tured by Capt. Mowat, carried to New York and confined on the 
prison ship. He with some of his crew, escaped by overpowering the 
guard, after thej'^ had succeeded in getting them under the influence 
of liquor, and returned home He was a zealous patriot, a man of 
energy and courage who had the confidence of his fellow citizens. He 
served on important committees, and as selectman of Gorham. He 
kept a public house and died at Gorham in 180.5, aged sixty years. 

Corp. Silas Chadbourne served also as a sergeant in Capt. Briant 
Morton's company in 1776, as first lieutenant in the Eleventh Massa- 
chusetts regiment in 1777, and resigned March 18, 1780 



" A Return of Capt. Hart Williams' com^iany in the Continental 
Army at Cambridge, ye Oct. 8th, 1775." 

ALL ENLISTED APRIL 24th. 

Hart Williams Capt., Gorham 

William McLellan, 1st Lieut., 



42 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



Gary McLellan, 
John Perkins, 
John Phinney Jr., 
James Perkins. 
David Watts. 
Silas Chadbourne, 
Enoch Frost, 
William Irish, 
Samnel Gammon, 
Thomas Bangs. 
Jeremiah Jones, 



2d Lieut. 
Sergt., 



Corp. 



Drummer, 
Fifer, 



Gorham 



on furlough 



PBIVATES. 
Barnabas Bangs, Gorham 

Joseph Weymouth, " 

Bickford Dyer, " 

Thomas Guston, " 

Jeremiah Hodgdon, " 

Daniel Maxwell, " 

Thomas Poat, ' 

John Parker, " 
Ezekiel Hatch, 

Paul Whitney, " 

George Robinson, " 

Joseph McDonell " 

Peletiah McDonell, " 

George Hunt, " 

George Waterhouse, "discharged 

Sept. 30, 1775 

Daniel Whitney, " 

Thomas Irish, ' 

John Mellvin, " 
James Morton, 

Philip Gammon, " 

Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 



IchabodHunt, Gorham 

Ebenezer Mitchell, " entered 

the floating battery 
Abijah Lewis, Buxton 

James Irish, Gorham 

Nathaniel Lombard, " 
Butler Lombard, " 

Owen Runnells " 

Theodore Rounds, Buxton 
Elisha Cobb, Gorham 

James Jourden, Falmouth 

Napthalim Whitney, Gorham 
Jonathan Sturgis, '■ 

Prince Hamlin, " 

John Whitney, " 

xVmos Whitney, " 

Joseph McLellan, " 

Joseph Creesy, Gorham, r. n. b. 
Sylvanus Brown, Gorham 
Solomon Green, " 

Joshua Hanscom, Barwick 

217. 



CAPT. WENTWORTH STUART'S COMPANY. 

This company was raised principally from the towns of Gorham, 
Standish and Windham. 

Capt, Wentworth Stuart served as a lieutenant in Capt. Joseph Wood- 
man's company, in 1757, and was an ofiicer in the militia and marched 
his company in the Lexington alarm . He entered the service April 
24, 17"5, and took an active part in the " Thompson war," serving as 
captain in this regiment until Jan. 1, 1776, when he became a captain 
in the 18th Continental regiment and died in the service, with the 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY's REGIMENT OF FOOT. 43 

small pox, at Sewall's Point, April 16, i77(), after participating in the 
siege of Boston. He married Feb. 4, 1753, Susannah Lombard, daughter 
of Rev. Soloman Lombard of Gorham. They had ten children. He 
Avas born Oct. 20, 1731 and his wife Aug. 14, 1734. 

First Lieut. Jonathan Sawyer entered the service April 24, 1775, 
served also in the 18th Continental regiment, in 1776, and was promoted 
to be captain. He Avas first lieutenant in the 14th Massachusetts regi- 
ment Jan. 1, 1777, and died July 19, 1777 He is said to have married 
Martha Rich in 1764, and had eleven children. 

Second Lieut Caleb Rowe of Pearsontown (Standish), enlisted April 
24, 1775, was first lieutenant in the 18th Continental regiment, in 1776, 
and was discharged Feb. 1, 1776 He also served in Col. Joseph Vose's 
1st Massachusetts regiment from May 15, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779. He 
came from Kensington, N H,, and died at Belgrade, Me., in 1819, aged 
eighty-four years. 



"Return of Capt. Wentworth Stuart's Company in the 31st Regt. 
of Foot, Commanded by Col. Edmund Phinney, Sept. 29, 1775, with an 
abstract of pay due from the last of July inclusive." 

ENLISTED. 

Wentworth Stuart, Capt, Gorham, April 24, 1775 

Jonathan Sawyer, 1st Lieut., " " 24, " 

2d " Pearsontown (Standish) " 24, " 



Caleb Rowe, 

Josiah Jenkins, Sergt., 

John Watson, " 

John York, <' 

Ebenezer Morton, " 
Nathaniel Stevens, Corp., 

Joel Sawyer, *' 

Peter Moulton, " 

John Crocket, " 

Benja Green, Drummer, 

Joseph Stuart, Fifer, 



Gorham, 

Pearsontown, 
Gorham, 



Pearsontown, 
Gorham, 



May 15, 

" 15, 

" 16, 

" 15, 

" 15, 

" 15, 

•• 16, 

" 24 

" 24, 

" 15, 



Pkivates. 

Austin Alden, 
John Greeley, 
John Foy, 
John Irish, 
James Irish, 
Richard Preston, 
Amos Brown, 
Job Hall, 

William Whitmore, 
Nathan Hanscom, 



Gorham, 



Windham, 



Gorham, 



16 
15, 
15, 
17, 
1", 
15, 
15. 
15, 
15, 
15, 



44 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



Joseph Jennings, 


Rye, J 


lay 24, 17 


Sargant Shaw, 


Pearson town, 


" 16, " 


Reuben Cookson, 


a 


" 16, ' 


Abraham York, 


(( 


'• 16, " 


Ephriam Bachelor, 


(( 


" 16, " 


Thomas Shaw, 


a 


«' 16, " 


Daniel Bean, 


" 


" 16, " 


Israel Smith, 


Norton, 


" 16, " 


Joab Libby, 


Gorham, 


" 16, " 


David Whitne3% 


" 


" 17, " 


George Tesharey, 


Windham, 


" 23, " 


Daniel Toward, 


Kittery, 


" 21, " 


Joseph Libby, 


Gorham, 


" 24, " 


Joel Rich, 


" 


" 24, - 


Thomas Skillings, 


" 


" 24, " 


John Workman, 


Barnerdstown, 


" 24, " 


Jonatlain Sanborn, 


Pearsontown, 


" 16, ' 


Desper West, 


Gorham, 


" 24. " 


Arthur Pottenger, 


Falmouth, 


" 16, " 


Caleb Graffum, 


Windham, 


" 24, " 


John Thurlo, 


Gorham, 


" 21, " 


Ephriam Russell, 


Penobscot, 


" 14, " 


Nathaniel Nason, 


Berwick. 


" 14, " 


Charles Grant, 


" discharged Sept. 15th, 


" 14, " 


Elisha Libby, 


(1 


" 14, " 


Elijah Davis, 


Gorham, 


'• 15, " 


Barnabas Rich, 


(1 


" 24, " 


John Skillings. 


it 


" 24, " 


Mass. Archives, Vol. 


56, Part 2, Page 216. 





CAPT. MOSES MERRILL'S COMPANY. 



This company was raised principally from tlie towns of New Glouces- 
ter and New Boston (Gray). 

Capt. Moses Merrill entered the service from New Gloucester, May 
15, 1775, and was a selectman of that town. He was lieutenant-colonel 
in Col. Timothy Pike's 4th Cumberland County militia regiment in 
1776, and served as first lieutenant in Capt. Wm. Cobb's company in 
€ol. Jonathan Mitchell's regiment in the Bagaduce expedition in 1779. 

First Lieut Noah Walker entered the service from New Gloucester, 
May 15, 1775 

Second Lieut. Nathaniel Haskell entered the service from the same 
town. May 15, 1775. He married at Falmouth, Aug. 30, 1763, Deborah 
Bailey, and probably moved to New Gloucester before the war. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



45 



" Retui-n of Capt. Moses Merrill's company in the 31st Regiment of 
Foot commanded by Col. Edmund Phinney." 



Moses Merrill, Capt. 

Noah Walker, 1st Lieut. 
Nathaniel Haskell, 2d Lieut. 

Nathan Merrill, Sergt. 
Nathaniel Bennet, " 
Samuel Blalve, " 

Robert Baley, " 

William Gofl, Corp. 
William West, " 

Zebulon Row, " 

Joseph Stevens, " 

George Knight, Di'ummer. 

William Haskell, Fifer, 





ENLISTED. 


New Gloucester, 


May 


- 15, 1775 


" 






15, " 


<< 






15, " 


(( 






15, " 


(( 






15, " 


Taunton, 






21, " 


New Gloucester, 




15, " 


(( 






15, " 


<< 






15, " 


" 






25, " 


New Boston 


(Gray), 




15, " 
15, " 


New Gloucester, 




15, " 



Privates. 

James Cabel, 
Benja. Clifford, 
Jonathan Doughty, 
David Donnel, 
Seth Dutton, 
John Glovger, 
Samuel Hammond, 
Jacob Hammond, 
Danuel Haney, 
Nathaniel Ingersol, 
Eliphalet Lane, 
Joseph Leavet, 
Nathaniel Lane, 
Zepheniah Lane, 
James Lesley, 
Benja. Merrill, 
John ]Mors, 
James McFarland, 
Levi Merrill, 
Richard Mors, 
Solomon Millet, 
John Millet, 
Mark Merrill, 
Reuben Noble, 
Richard Phillips, 
Dier Pratt, 
Abel Proctor, 
Ambros Rines, 
Eliah Royel, 



New Gloucester, 



" 


" 21. 


New Boston (Gray), 


" 31, 


New Gloucester, 


" 15, 


New Boston, 


*' 19, 


New Gloucester, 


" 15, 


" 


" 15, 


" 


" 24, 


New Boston, 


" 15, 


New Gloucester, 


June 30, 


" 


May 15, 


" 


" 24, 


" 


" 15, 


" 


" 15, 


New Boston, 


" 20, 


New Gloucester, 


" 15, 


New Boston, 


" 15, 


New Gloucester, 


" 15, 


" 


" 15, 


" 


" 22, 


" 


" 15, 


" 


June 30, 


New Boston, 


May 15, 


" 


" 15, 


New Gloucester, 


" 24, 


Taunton, 


' 24, 


Littleton, 


" 31 


New Gloucester, 


" 15, 


u 


" 15, 



I 



46 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Ebenezer Stevens, Taunton, May 24, 1775 

Jonas Stevens, New Boston, " 15, " 

Joel Simmons, New Gloucester, " 15, " 

Joshua Staples, Taunton, " 24, " 

Noah Stevens, Littleton, " 15, " 

William Stinchfielcl, New Gloucester, " 15, " 

Jacob Stevens, " " 24, " 

Nathaniel Stevens, " " 15, " 

Jonathan Tyler, " " 15, " 

William Tucker, " " 15, " 

Joseph Woodbury, " " 15, " 

Joseph Woodman, " " 15, " 

Benja. Youlen, " " 24, " 
Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 212. 

CAPT. JOHN WORTHLEY'S COMPANY. 

This company was enlisted at North Yarmouth and but nine of the 
men Avere from other towns. 

Capt. John Worthley enlisted in this regiment from North Yarmouth, 
April 24, 1775. He came there from " Haletown " and the name was 
originally Wortley ; married Nov. 9, 1758, Martha Bailey, daughter of 
Robei-t and Martha Bailey, of Ware, Mass., she was born Feb. 8, 1740 
and died June 14, 1817, aged seventy-seven years. They had five sons 
and five daughters. Capt. Worthley died June 7, 1810, aged seventy-five 
years. His family record is published in "Old Times North Yar- 
mouth," iDage 786. 

First Lieut. Bradbury True was the son of Capt. William and Anna 
(Bradbury) True, and came from Salisbury to North Yarmouth, about 
1760. He married Sarah Pettingill, and enlisted in this regiment, April 
24, 1775. 

Second Lieut. Crispus Graves enlisted in this regiment, April 24, 
1775, and served also as second and first lieutenant in Capt. John Rice's 
company in the 18th Continental regiment in 1776. He married in 
1765, Susannah Merrill, and Feb. 26, 1796 Martha Whittam. 



"Muster Kollof Capt. John Worthley'sCompany in the 31st Regiment 
of Foot in the Continental Army encamped at Cambridge, Fort No. 2." 

ENLISTED. 

John Worthley, Capt., North Yarmouth, April 24, 1775 

Bradburj' True, 

Crispus Graves, 

Samuel Stubbs, 

Stephen Curtis, 

Moses Merrill, 

John Webster, 



1st Lieut., 


" 24, 


2d Lieut., 


" 24, 


Sergt., 


May 8, 


u 


t " 12 


a < 


' " 12 


i< ( 


" 12, 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



47 



Jonathan Mitchell, Corp. 

Jeremiah Stubbs, " " 

Joseph Field, " " 

Stephen Prince, " " 

Moses Bradbnrj^, Drummer, " 

Bela Mitchell, Fifer, " 

Privates. 

Trueworthy Dudley, North Yarmouth, 
Joseph Videtor, " 



North Yarmouth, 



Nathaniel Gerrish, 
Daniel Morrison, 
Jonathan Byram, 
David Byram, 
Paul Sanburn, 
Stephen Blasdel, 
Abraham Reed, 
Peater Brown, 
Joseph \Veare, 
John Cole, 
Page Tobey. 
John Sturdavant, 
Thomas Riggs, 
Mathias Stover. 
William Lawrence, 
Seth Rogers, 
John Marow, 



Royalsborough (Durham), 
North Yarmouth, 



May 8, 

" 8, 
" 12, 

" 8, 



1775 



Falmouth, 
North Yarmouth, 
Kennebec, 
North Yarmouth, 



Joseph Hunter, 
Jacob Anderson, 
Francis Davis. 
James Rogers. 
Jonathan Ferrin, 
John Dill. 
Carl McINIanners, 
Michael Periu. 
Ceaser Jackson. Negro, 
Adams Rval. 



(Gone to Canada with Arnold.) 
North Yarmouth, 



Royalsborough (Durham), 
North Yarmouth, 



(Gone to Canada with Arnold.) 
Hollis. 

Kennebec. " " 

North Yarmouth, " 

Sheepscot, *' 



Ely Stiles. 
Peleg Smith. 
Aaron Harris. 
James McLellan, 
Daniel Plummer, 
Elkenah Elms, " 

Beniah Baker, North Yarmouth, 

This roll was probably made in October, 1775. 
Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 213. 



8. 

8. 

8. 

8. 
10. 
10, 
10. 
12. 
12. 

12. 
12. 
12. 
14. 
14, 
1-1, 
14, 
14, 
14, 
14. 

14. 
14. 
14, 
14. 
14, 
14, 
14, 



48 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



CAPT. ABRAHAM TYLER'S COMPANY. 

Capt. Tyler's company was raised at Scarborough, and entered the 
service in the early part of May. 

Capt. Abraham Tyler was a son of James Tyler, of Arundel, and was 
the last ferryman at Blue Point. He married. Aug. 11. 1743, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Brown, of Biddeford. Capt. Tyler was in the militia and 
marched his company at the Lexington Alarm. He entered the ser- 
vice April 24, 1775, in this regiment; was captain in the 18th Continental 
regiment in 1776, serving throvigh the siege of Boston and the Ticon- 
deroga campaign of the fall of 1776. and was captain in Col. Thomas 
Poor's militia regiment, at North River. N. Y., from May 15, 1778 to 
Feb. 17. 1779. 

First Lieut. Elisha Meserve was born Jan 19, 1741; married Jan. 16, 
1765. Hannah Fogg, and was the son of Daniel and Mehitable Meserve. 
He entered the service in this regiment April 24, 1775, and served in 
the 18th Continental regiment in 1776. 

Second Lieut. Moses McKenney was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth 
McKenney, baptized at Scarborough May 5, 1742, and married. Oct. 20, 
1762, Eunice Larrabee. He entered the service April 24, 1775 in this 
regiment. 



" Return of Capt. Abraham Tyler's Company in the .Slst Regt. of 
Foot, commanded by Col. Edmund Phinney, Sept 29, 1775, with an 
abstract of pay due from the last of July inclusive." 

This company all enlisted from Scarborough. 

ENLISTED 



Abraham Tyler, 
Elisha Meserve, 
Moses McKenney, 
Solomon Meserve, 
Ichabod Libbey, 
Thomas Libbey, 
Samuel Plummer, 
Samuel Goold, 
Isaac Merrick, 
John Fogg. 
James Tyler, 
John Martin, 
Daniel Libby, 

Privates. 



Capt. 
1st Lieut. 
2d Lieut. 

Sergt. 



Corp. 



Drummer. 
Fifer, 



Jonathan Berry. 
John Waterhouse. 
Peter Kelley, 
William Chamberlain, 
Uriah Graffam, 



April 24, 1775 

•• 24, ■• 

•• 21, •' 

May 9, '• 

9. " 

9, " 

9. " 

6. *• 

9, ■• 

9, " 

9, •• 

8, " 

8, •• 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 49 



Thomas McKenney, 
John Crocksford, 
Samuel Larrabee, 
Bartholomew Jackson, 
James McKenney, 
James Marr, 
Job Mitchell, 
George Vaughan, 
Benja. Holt, 
Abner Harmon, 
Zebulon Libby, 
John Fly, 
James Small. 
Abner McKenney, 
Nathan Berdeen, 
Nathaniel Libby, 
Reuben Libbey, 
John Mathews, 
Elisha Libby. 
Simeon Libbey. 
Robert Hartley, 
Umphrey Hanscom, 
Joseph McKenney, 
Isaac McKenney, 
Dominicus Libby, 
Abraham Durgin. 
Joseph Soverin, 
Charles Bunalt, 
Luke Libbey, 
Umphrey Tyler, 
Gideon Meserve, 
Allison Libbey, 
John Hobbs, 
Joel Moody, 
William Libbey, 
Gideon Hanscome, 
Benjamin March. 
Timothy Gerrish, 

Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 210. 



May 9,1775 


" 9, 


a 


9, 


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" 9, 


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9, 


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'• 9, 


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ii, 



CAPT. JOHN RICE'S COMPANY. 

Capt. John Rice was a retailer and inn-holder; lived at Dunstan and 
is said to have been at one time a sea captain. He enlisted April 24, 
1775, and served at Cambridge until Jan. 1, 1776, when he commanded a 
company in the 18th Continental regiment through the siege of Boston 
and died, probably from disease contracted in the service. May 18, 1776. 



50 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Two letters of his, from the army, are published in the history of 
Scarborough, and from them it is very evident that he was one of those 
zealous patriots of that time, whom their descendants delight to honor. 

First Lieut. Silas Burbank joined this regiment April 24, 1775 from 
Scarborough, served in 1776 in the 18th Continental regiment, joined 
Col. Brewer's regiment Jan. 1, 1777, promoted to captain July 1, and 
served until Jan. 1, 1781, having been in the service five years and eight 
months. His two sons also served in the army. 

He married, first, Feb. 14, 1763, Hannah Beard and they joined the 
church June 19, 1763. He married, second, Feb. 14,1805, Sally Fitts. 
He owned a large farm near Pine Point, was an innholder in 1791, and 
had several children. 

He was convicted for participation in the ''King Riot" at Scar- 
borough during the excitement about the stamp act, and confined in 
the old timber jail which stood near where the soldiers' monument 
now stands in Portland, and from which he wrote a letter to Richard 
King, which was published in the history of Scarborough reflecting on 
his character and want of education. The King side of the case has 
been written, and Silas Burbank lies in a patriot's grave an acknowl- 
edged lover of liberty, who no dovibt thought that there would be no 
liberty in Scarborough until the rule of Richard King was overthrown. 
For any mistakes Silas Burbank may have made he atoned for them 
all by his services to his country, and should have his proper place 
among the patriots of old Scarborough 

Silas Burbank served under Washington and Putnam at Cambridge 
in 1775, in the siege of Boston the next year, marched to reinforce Fort 
Ticonderoga in August, 1776, took part in the battles of the Saratoga 
campaign and the surrender of Burgoyne in 1777, spent the winter of 
1777-78 at "Valley Forge, fought in the battle of Monmouth and ended 
his services in the operations on the Hudson River, retiring from the 
service Jan. 1, 1781, with a most honorable record. Let us give honor 
to whom honor is due. 

Second Lieut. Edward Milliken was the son of Edward and Abigail 
Milliken and was born March 5, 1733; married May 23, 1754, Elizabeth 
Harmon. He enlisted in this companj^ April 24, 1775, and served also 
in the 18th Continental regiment through the year 1776, part of the 
time as quartermaster. 



" Return of Capt. John Rice's Company in the 31st Regt. of Foot 
commanded by Col. Edmund Phinne;^ , Sept. 29, 1775 with an abstract 
of pay due from the last of July inclusive." 

ENLISTED. 

John Rice, Capt., April 24, 1775 

Silas Burbank, 1st Lieut., " 24, " 

Edward Milliken, 2d Lieut., " 24, " 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT Of FOOT. 



51 



Lemuel Milliken, Sergt., 
William Maxwell, *• 

John Nebegin. " 

Eliakim Libby, " 

James Milliken, Corp., 
Nathaniel Cairl, " 

John Hodgdon, " 

Joseph Richard, •' 

Joseph Waterhouse, Drummer, 

John Peterson, Fifer, 



Jay 8, 


1775 


" 8, 




" 8, 




" 8, 




" 18, 




" 15, 




" 8, 




•' 15, 




" 18, 




•' 15, 





Privates. 

Joseph Burnam, 
Benja. Berry, 
William Boobey, 
Daniel Colebi'oth, 
Silas Durgin, 
David Durgin, 
Seth Fogg, 
Daniel Field, 
Joseph Gold. 
Solomon Hartford. 
John Haines, 
Xathaniel Jose, 
James Larry, 
Bezaleel Low. 
Abner Lunt. 
Daniel Marshall, 
Benja. Milliken, 
Daniel Moses, 
Joshua Milliken, 
Abner Milliken, 
Jove Page. 
Daniel Parcher, 
Benjamin Rice, 
Thomas Rice, 
Lemuel Rice, 
Ebenezer Rice, 
Joseph Salt, 
Thomas Burton. 
George Thompson, 
Samuel Tibbets, 
John Wilson, 
John Webster, 
Thomas Whitten, Jr., 
Thomas Whitten, 



Buxton, 



discharged Sept. 16th, 



" 12, " 

'' 15, " 

•' 8, " 

" 18, '• 

" 18, " 

" 13, •' 

'> 15, " 

July 3, " 

May 18, '' 

" 18, " 

July 1, " 

May 18, " 

" 18, " 

8, " 

•• 15, - 

'• 15. " 

'• 15. •• 

" 15, '* 

" 15, " 

'• 15, *' 

•• 18, " 

July 3, " 

May 8, " 

" 8, " 

'• 15, " 

" 18, ■' 

July 5. " 

May 18. " 

•• 15, " 

" 15, " 

" 8, " 

" 18, '• 

July 3, » 

May 18, " 



52 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

John Whitten, May 15, 1775 

John Durgin, *' 18, •• 

All this company came from Scarborough, excepting Daniel Field, 
of Buxton. 

Mass. Archives, Vol. 56, Part 2, Page 207. 



CAPT. SAMUEL DUNN'S COMPANY. 

This was a Cape Elizabeth company, that entered the service April 
24, 1775, and probably served in that town until July 11, when they 
probably marched to Cambridge to join this regiment. 

Capt. Samuel Dunn was a shipwright, and lived in the western part 
of Cape Elizabeth. He mari-ied, in 1757, Sarah Skillings, daughter of 
Samuel Skilliugs; was in Capt. Samuel Cobb's training company in 
1756, delegate to the county convention of September, 1774, and was 
prominent in the town's affairs He died about 1784. 

First Lieut. Ebenezer Newell was from Cape Elizabeth and went to 
Durham, Me., about 1779. 

Second Lieut. Samuel Thomes, of Stroudwater. married Betty John- 
son, Sept 12, 1765, and died March 31, 1798, aged fifty-one years. He 
entered the service Api'il24, 1775, was appointed first lieutenant in Capt. 
John Skillings' company in llth Massachusetts regiment. Nov. 6, 1776, 
and promoted to captain April 3, 1777, took part in the Saratoga cam- 
paign. Valley Forge and battle of Monmouth, and retired Nov. 22, 1778. 



" Muster Roll of Captain Sam'l Dunn's Company in ye 31st Regiment 
of Foot— Commanded by Colo. Edmund Phinney. Belonging to the 
Army of the United Colonies of North America." 

ALL ENLISTED, APRIL 24. 

Samuel Dunn, Capt., Cape Elizabeth, on furlough. 

Ebenezer Newell, 1st Lieut., " 

Samuel Thoms, 2d Lieut., Stroudwater. sick on furlough. 

Reuben Dyer, Sergt., Cape Elizabeth. 

John Robinson, " " 

John Gilford. " " on furlough. 

Robert Clark, " " 

Daniel Sawyer, Corp., " 

John Jordan, " " 

Levi Done. " " 

William Maxwell, " " 

Joshua Wescott, Drummer. '' 

Henry Small, Fifer, '• 

Privates. 
Moses Whitney, Gorham. 



COL. EDMUND PHINNEY S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 



53 



Jonathan Fairbanks, 
William McKinny, 
John Jordan, 
Ebenezer Jordan, 
Eliab King. 
Samuel Robinson, 
Robert Jimininson, 
Solomon Jordan, 
Peter Jordan. 
Joseph Maxwell, 
John Hans, 
John Skinner, 
Stephen Atwood, 
Peter Sawyer, 
James Jackson, 
Walter Simonton, 
John Fowler, 
Francis Cash, 
Ephi'iam Crocket, 
Samuel Clark, 
Edward Avery, 
Daniel Dyer, 
Jonathan McKinny, 
Solomon Newell. 
William Johnson, 
John Chase, 
Elezer Strout, 
Wright Allin, 
Timothy Johnson, 
Moses Hanscom, 
Robert Mitchell, 
Thomas Jordan, 
Thomas Yoi-k, 
Joseph Robert, 
Thomas Cummins, 
Mark Leach. 
John Wimble, 
William Elder, 
Solomon Jackson, 
Micall Davis, 
Peleg Willard, 
Stephen Hutchinson, 
John Bryant, 
Joshua SaAvyer, 
John Miller, 
Samuel Groves, 



Cape Elizabeth 



on furlough. 



Newton. 

Cape Elizabeth. 



discharged. 



discharged, Sept. ye 14th. 



on furlough 



Pownalborough, 



54 COL. EDMUND PHINNEY'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. 

Jonathan Sawyer, Cape Elizabeth, 

William Maxwell, *' 

Ebenezer Newell, Lieut. 
Mass. Archives, Vol. 5&, Page 214. 
This was probably an October return although there is no date on 
the roll. 

*' They left the plowshare in the mold. — 
Their flocks and herds without a fold, 
The sickle in the unshorn grain. 
The corn, half garnered, on the plain. 
And mustered, in their simple dress. 
For wrongs to seek a stern redress. 
To right those wrongs, come weal, come woe, 
To perish, or overcome their foe." 



I 



i 



